KC Trip: The Aveda Jam

A couple weeks ago I spent the weekend in Kansas City with a group of classmates to attend a hair show called the “Aveda Jam”. The “Jam” show concept/style is new to Aveda and Kansas City was their very first location to try it out. They held it at the Madrid Theatre in the Westport neighborhood and I was fortunate enough to be asked for the opportunity to do a cut or style on stage during the show, essentially “performing” with not only some extremely talented stylists in the midwest region but also with the Aveda Global Artistic Director of Hair Styling, Ricardo Dinis. The show also included Aveda’s Global Artistic Director for Hair Color, Ian Michael Black, and featured Van Council of Van Michael Salons. Who else can I name drop LOL? Oh yeah, they also invited stylist Jon Reyman (pictured w/ yes the Kenzo Tiger sweater).

My experience for the Aveda Jam was outstanding. I cannot believe the kind of talent that was on stage and frankly as a student I didn’t feel “qualified” at all to be up there. But hey, when someone asks you to do something like this, you just say “yes” and go with it. I had a little under two weeks to prepare for the show, getting a model and even coming up with a look that I could do on stage in 20 minutes, but didn’t let that stress me out because I knew I would have the support of so many people in the audience. Truly I am so grateful for the opportunity.

Even better than the Aveda Jam show was the “watch and learn” segment that just our group of students got to have with Ian Michael Black and Ricardo Dinis. Basically an “Inside the Actor’s Studio” for hair stylists, we got to watch Ricardo do a full cut and style and get industry insight from Ian Michael Black. This education was so good and “awakening” in terms of my career and passion that I started crying at the end. YES. You read that right. I started CRYING haha. I can’t say I’ve had a public or private cry in a long time so this surprised me. And of course this happened right before we took pictures as a group and with the Global Artists so my face looks swollen. Go figure, I’m an ugly crier but honestly, who cries pretty? One of my friends saw the picture I posted with Ian Michael Black (above) and told me that my face reminded her of Charlize Theron in the movie “Monster”. She meant it in the nicest way possible and we both laughed about it.

Anyways, this little Kansas City trip was such an incredible experience and I am so thankful I got to participate in it. I hope Aveda does another Jam here in Des Moines, and would suggest for anyone to attend this type of show since it is high energy, there’s a DJ and an open bar. It’s definitely a show not just for industry professionals!